Laparoscopic applicator and uses thereof

Abstract

An applicator for use in a laparoscopic surgery is described. The applicator allows the effective delivery of a surgical dressing, such as an allograft having at least one layer of human amnion and chorion tissues, to the surgical site, to thereby improve the performance of the surgery, e.g., by reducing adhesions, scar formation while also reducing inflammation and risk of post-operative infection.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . An applicator for use in a laparoscopic surgery, the applicator comprising:
 a liquid conduit;   a bulb connected to the liquid conduit; and   a surgical dressing placed over at least a portion of the bulb and an end of the liquid conduit connected to the bulb,   
       wherein the surgical dressing has a size and shape appropriate for covering a surgical site; and at least one of the portion of the bulb and the end of the liquid conduit connected to the bulb comprises a porous mesh material that allows the application of a liquid from the liquid conduit to the surgical dressing to thereby apply the surgical dressing to the surgical site. 
     
     
         2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical dressing comprises an allograft having at least one layer of human amnion and chorion tissues. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb and the liquid conduit are made of the same or different surgical grade materials. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb and the liquid conduit are rigid or semi-rigid. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the porous mesh material is selected from the group consisting of any medical grade polymer and monomer. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the porous mesh material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluroethylene (ePTFE), porous polyethylene, porous polypropylenes, liquid polyurethanes for hollow-fiber implants, polyurethanes for dip-molding, biostable polyurethanes and thermoplastic polyurethanes. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical dressing comprises one or more therapeutic agents to further improve the performance and reduce the complications of the laparoscopic surgery. 
     
     
         8 . A method of preparing an applicator for use in a laparoscopic surgery, the method comprising:
 obtaining a liquid conduit;   obtaining a bulb;   connecting the bulb to the liquid conduit;   obtaining a surgical dressing having a size and shape appropriate for covering a surgical site; and   placing the surgical dressing over at least a portion of the bulb and an end of the liquid conduit connected to the bulb,   
       wherein at least one of the portion of the bulb and the end of the liquid conduit connected to the bulb comprises a porous mesh material that allows the application of a liquid from the liquid conduit to the surgical dressing to thereby apply the surgical dressing to the surgical site. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the surgical dressing comprises an allograft having at least one layer of human amnion and chorion tissues. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising drying the allograft over at least the portion of the bulb and the end of the liquid conduit connected to the bulb. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the human amnion and chorion tissues are obtained by a process comprising:
 (a) obtaining informed consent from pregnant females;   (b) conducting risk assessment on the consented pregnant females to select an amnion donor;   (c) procuring after birth placenta from the amnion donor; and   (d) obtaining amnion and chorion tissues from the placenta.   
     
     
         12 . In an improved method of performing a laparoscopic surgery, the improvement comprising:
 inserting an applicator of  claim 1  into the small incision and the cannula employed in the laparoscopic surgery; and   applying the liquid from the liquid conduit to the surgical dressing to thereby apply the surgical dressing to a surgical site.   
     
     
         13 . In the method of  claim 12 , wherein the surgical dressing comprises an allograft having at least one layer of human amnion and chorion tissues. 
     
     
         14 . In the method of  claim 12 , wherein improvement further comprises applying an amniotic fluid to the surgical site 
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising:
 (1) an applicator comprising a liquid conduit and a bulb connected to a liquid conduit;   (2) a plurality of surgical dressings wherein at least two of the surgical dressings are different in at least one of size and shape; and   (3) instructions for applying the surgical dressing to a surgical site with the applicator.   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , further comprising an amniotic fluid and instructions on applying the amniotic fluid to cover the surgical site. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the surgical dressing comprises an allograft having at least one layer of human amnion and chorion tissues. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of a portion of the bulb and an end of the liquid conduit connected to the bulb comprises a porous mesh material that allows the application of a liquid from the liquid conduit to the surgical dressing placed over the portion of the bulb or the end of the liquid conduit to thereby apply the surgical dressing to a surgical site. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the porous mesh material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluroethylene (ePTFE), porous polyethylene, porous polypropylenes, liquid polyurethanes for hollow-fiber implants, polyurethanes for dip-molding, biostable polyurethanes and thermoplastic polyurethanes. 
     
     
         20 . The kit according to  claim 15 , further comprising an amniotic fluid.